Evening Standard named Daily Newspaper of the Year at London Press Club awards

The Evening Standard has been named daily newspaper of the year at the London Press Club Awards.

It beat off competition from The Guardian and The Daily Mail to claim the honour for the second time in four years in a ceremony at The City’s Stationers’ Hall.

Bill Hagerty, chairman of the judges, said London’s paper had “edged out” two of the most powerful dailies on Fleet Street “despite relatively modest resources”.

He added that the Standard “had expanded and sharpened its news coverage, regularly produced visually arresting front and inside pages and run confidently with a tremendous series entitled Frontline London, an investigation and campaign that penetrated London gangs and enlisted support from potential employers to help young people leave a life of crime.

“The campaign prompted political action, with the Government pledging £3.8 million to address the problem, and the appointment by Mayor Boris Johnson of a Gangs Czar.”

In a second victory for the Standard, its retail correspondent Simon Neville, who also works for sister title The Independent, won the Business Journalist of the Year award.

Mr Hagerty said the judges chose Simon Neville as he had “proved a sharp thorn in the side of the Government and the retail industry with his campaign and exposure of the extent of Zero Hours contracts for retail and hospitality workers.”

The Londoner of the Year award went to Baroness Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence. Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, who presented the award, said Lady Lawrence had become “a powerful champion against racism” and been “justly recognised” last year with a seat in the House of Lords.

The other winners were: Sunday Newspaper of the Year — The Mail on Sunday; Scoop of the Year — Sunday People for Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi; Blog of the Year — Paul Staines of Guido Fawkes; Arts Reviewer of the Year — Ludovic Hunter-Tilney (Financial Times); Broadcast Journalist of the Year — LBC Breakfast host Nick Ferrari; Edgar Wallace award — Ian Birrell.